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What They're Saying: Amanda Murphy's Victory in Pasco County

Posted October 16, 2013

Amanda Murphy’s victory in Pasco County is being called “impressive,” an “upset” by Democrats, and a key indicator of the mood of the electorate heading into 2014. Take a look at just a sample of the reactions…

Democrat Murphy wins Pasco House seat

"For the first time in nearly two decades, Pasco County will send a Democrat to Tallahassee."

"Democrat Amanda Murphy won a special election to the Florida House on Tuesday, claiming the west Pasco seat vacated by popular Republican Mike Fasano."

"Between the two campaigns, more than a half-million dollars was raised, but Gunter raked in nearly three times as much as Murphy. The source of Gunter's funding made him a frequent target in political ads and mailers that tried to link him to special interests."

“What makes Murphy’s win impressive is Gunter had support of the state GOP, including a full-throated voter drive by state heavyweights Attorney General Pam Bondi, House Speaker Will Weatherford and Rep. Richard Corcoran.”

“With 97 percent of precincts reporting, Murphy held a 297-vote lead over Republican Bill Gunter. Many observers expected the race to be close. Gunter…had the county's most powerful leaders and a Tallahassee-funded war chest behind him.”

Rep. Mark Pafford: “That we were outspent, conservatively speaking, three to one, probably a lot higher, that you had big money coming into the campaign and we were still able to pull it out, well, that restores my faith that people still know they control their destiny in Florida.”